LIMERICK Musical Society is pulling out all the stops for Fiddler on the Roof, its 10th anniversary show which runs at UCH from this Thursday 11 to Saturday 13.
“This production, with lavish costumes and vibrant sets, will be a visually spectacular musical, and the chorus and costumes will add to the authenticity of this moving musical by Stein, Harnick and Bock,” promises Gerry Ryan, PRO for the society.
Fiddler on the Roof is one of the best loved stage and screen musicals created. This unique musical drama has captivated audiences around the globe since its original Broadway production in 1964. Winner of nine Tony Awards, it broke the existing long-running record in achieving more than 3,500 performances. It was made in an Oscar winning film in 1971.
The story is timeless and Limerick Musical Socierty is delighted to have secured the rights for the region. Revived on Broadway in 2004 to public acclaim, LMS drew together a cast of sixty to bring this story of one world ending, another beginning – Sunrise, Sunset – to life at UCH. The multi-award winning Limerick Musical Society promises “a witty, gritty vibrant and atmospheric production”.
Director Richie Ryan has looked forward to this weekend’s concert hall for a long time: “The infectious nature of the music has to be heard to be believed. Our talented cast have been in rehearsal over the last number of months and the society’s production team is very enthusiastic about Fiddler. The dancing and singing are first class and the visual aspects promise to be excellent”.
There’s terrific talent to this operation, with Chris Rowley, Martin McNeilus and Neil Dugdale leading younger male talent in Niall O’Halloran and Lee Dillon; choreography is by Niamh Twomey.
The show is based on the short story ‘Tevye and His Daughters’ by Sholom Aleichem. Set in 1905, Fiddler on the Roof takes place in Anatevka, a small Jewish village in Russia. The story revolves around the dairyman Tevye and his attempts to preserve his family’s traditions in the face of a changing world.
When his eldest daughter, Tzeitel, begs him to let her marry a poor tailor rather than the middle-aged butcher that he has already chosen for her, Tevye must choose between his own daughter’s happiness and those beloved traditions that keep the outside world at bay. All his daughters go to marry outside the orthodox faith and way, as it happens.
Meanwhile, there are other forces at work in Anatevka, dangerous forces which threaten to destroy the very life Teyve is trying to preserve. Join the spectacle at www.uch.ie, March 11-13, 8pm.
